The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

As Kobe Bryant once said, “There is power in understanding the journey of others to help create your own.”
That’s why the Learning Leader Show exists—to get together and understand the journeys of successful leaders, so that we can better understand our own.
This show is full of stories told by world-class leaders. Personal stories of successes, failures, and lessons learned along the way. Our guests come from diverse backgrounds—some are best-selling authors, others are genius entrepreneurs, and one even made a million dollars wearing t-shirts for a year. My role in this endeavor is to talk to the smartest, most creative, always-learning leaders in the world so that we can learn from them as we each create our own journeys.

His curiosity has led to the success and most importantly... Great questions like:

How to turn something into an enduring great company?

How someone or a company can go from Good To Great?

Jim most admired Peter Drucker when he was 35 years old...

The story of their first meeting and how Peter was the curious one... Kept peppering Jim with questions to start the conversation (much like Jim did to me to start this conversation)

"The ultimate zen master with bamboo stick"

Drucker - "It seems to me that you spend a lot of time worrying if you will survive. You probably will survive. You seem to focus a lot on the question, "how to be successful?" That is the wrong question. The right question is "How to be useful?"

What would it have cost Jim to not publishGood To Greatafter he finished the manuscript? -- More than $100m. He had to get it out in the world. He felt it was his responsibility to do so...

Another great mentor said to Jim... "When seeking an entrepreneurial path... Cut off all other options and GO."

"Everything is driven by by questions"

Can a good company become a great company? How?

Level 5 Leader

Starts with confronting the brutal facts

Personal humility and professional will

Not what, but who -- Get the right people on the bus

Does not happen in one fell swoop or a leap. It happens over time. Flywheel -- Create momentum

Understand the hedgehog concept -- An expert in one thing... Knows it very well

3 Parts of the Hedgehog concept

Deeply passionate about it

Encoded for it... You're really good at it. An expert

Economically, you can make money from it

Level 5 Leaders:

What cause do I serve?

Humility to serve... It's not about them

Willful -- Able to make difficult decisions

For the best Level 5 Leaders... How do they sustain it?

It's easier for them because they understand their personal hedgehog -- It helps them remain renewed after many years

"Measured Risk" vs. "Burn The Boats"

Fire Bullets... Then Cannon Balls

For Jim, this was his first two books + his time as a professor at Stanford before he decided to leave to start his own company

You must navigate your path. It doesn't mean you take unfounded risk... Fire bullets first, then cannonballs

"If you never fire a cannonball, you'll never make it.

"BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)

How to write a good one?

Take calibrated, calculated risk --

Have things to keep you alive even if everything goes wrong

Productive Paranoia

Validation - What are points of success you can look to?

Jim's wife Joann committing to winning an Ironman race... She was a consultant at the time. She was also a runner. She tried biking and was very good at it. Eventually she practiced, took measured risks, and won the Ironman race

"If you were a trial attorney and had to win the case, what evidence would you use?"

The Flywheel principle and putting it to use for Jeff Bezos and the Amazon team -- How could they build momentum? After Jim met with Jeff Bezos and his leadership team in 2001, Amazon executives were elated; according to several members of the team at the time, they felt that, after five years, they finally understood their own business.Most important for young leaders -- Jim's advice

"FIRST WHO, THEN WHAT?"

Who do you want to mentor you? Who do you want to mentor?

Who do you want to be your friends? Who do you want to work with? Who do you want to spend time with?

The most important question is WHO

You don't need to answer WHAT until you answer WHO

"The most important question is WHO. First WHO, then WHAT. Who will be your mentor? Who will be your friends? Who will you help? Who will you spend time with? You don't need to answer what until well after you've answered WHO."

The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf. We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram.

Jim Collins is a student and teacher of leadership and what makes great companies tick. Having invested a quarter century of research into the topic, he has authored or co-authored six books that have sold in total more than ten million copies worldwide. They include: GOOD TO GREAT, the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies and leaders make the leap to superior results, along with its companion work GOOD TO GREAT AND THE SOCIAL SECTORS; the enduring classic BUILT TO LAST, which explores how some leaders build companies that remain visionary for generations; HOW THE MIGHTY FALL, which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and most recently, GREAT BY CHOICE, which is about thriving in chaos – why some do, and others don’t – and the leadership behaviors needed in a world beset by turbulence, disruption, uncertainty, and dramatic change.

Episode 215: Chris Fussell -- How To Build A Team of Teams (One Mission)

Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute. He is the author of One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams, and a co-author of the New York Times bestseller Team of Teams, the first book in the series. He was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent the next 15 years on U.S. Navy SEAL Teams around the globe. He then served as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal during McChrystal’s final year commanding a Joint Special Operations Task Force fighting Al Qaeda around the globe.

Since leaving active duty in 2012, Fussell has also served as a Senior Fellow for National Security at New America, sits on the Board of Directors for the Navy SEAL Foundation, is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and teaches at Yale University’s Jackson Institute.

Episode 215: Chris Fussell -- How To Build A Team of Teams (One Mission)

"Remember, your position has little formal authority but massive reach. For many of the organizations we interact with, their entire opinion of our organization will be shaped off the tone of your emails, the courtesy you give their staff, and the respect you show for their Mission." -- General Stanley McChrystal speaking to Chris Fussell immediately following him becoming his Aide-De-Camp

Show Notes:

Sustained Excellence:

A constant intellectual curiosity

The interview process to become General McChrystal's Aide-De-Camp

A unique window to get that exposure

McChrystal trusted that if Chris wasn't qualified, then he wouldn't have been nominated

Career goals --> Family situation (could it handle Chris working 24/7 for a year? --> What would Chris enjoy about it?

What sealed Chris earning the job? Chris being incredibly curious about wanting to fully understand how the organization runs at a high level. General McChrystal loved that about Chris

"It was one of the hardest years of my career"

It was intense but the exposure was phenomenal

"If we've hit a point for 24 hours where we aren't questioning something, or there is no friction, then something is wrong"

How to handle issues at UBER?

"The issue is putting too much on to 1 person. It's not about 1 heroic leader. There needs to be a cultural shift. They need to create a leadership culture."

Operating Rhythm -- John Heisman 1899: The hurry up offense. Just because you have a 40 second play clock, doesn't mean you have to use all of it.

Chris and team were on a 24 hour operating rhythm. They re-synchronized every 24 hours. Had to have a flexible approach to handle the enemy.

A sense of shaped consciousness

Chris Zook

An aversion to bureaucracy

Front line obsession

Transparency of communication model

Senior leaders remain in close contact with issues on the ground without having to put out all of the fires

Hybrid model layered into it --> Interconnected model

McChrystal's advice to Chris when he first got the job: "Remember, your position has little formal authority but massive reach. For many of the organizations we interact with, their entire opinion of our organization will be shaped off the tone of your emails, the courtesy you give their staff, and the respect you show for their Mission."

Chris's career advice:

Don't think about money/industry -- Think what matters most to you? Lifestyle -- Coaching little league or being a high level CEO? Where do you want to be in 5 years? Where do you want to live? Do you want to raise a family? Important to map all of that out and build a profession around those goals.

Chris also teaches at Yale and does this exercise

Write a letter to yourself -- What type of leader do you want to be in 5 years? Map out your goals

"It's a cultural shift. A development of a leadership culture is needed." -- Chris Fussell discussing the changes he would make at UBER

The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf. We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram.

Jason Calacanis is a technology entrepreneur and an angel investor. The founder of a series of conferences that bring entrepreneurs together with potentials investors, he was a scout for top-tier Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and frequently appears in the media. He is the author of a new book, Angel: How To Invest In Technology Startups - Timeless Advice From An Angel Investor Who Turned $100,000 into $100,000,000.

The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone. Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Episode 213: Ryan Holiday - How To Make Work That Lasts (Perennial Seller)

This is Round 3 with best-selling author, entrepreneur, and renowned marketing strategist, Ryan Holiday. If you'd like to listen to our first conversation, go HERE. If you'd like to check out the second one, go HERE. Brian Koppelman (screenwriter & director: Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen and Billions) once said, “I don’t have many rules in life, but one I never break is: If Ryan Holiday writes a book, I read it as soon as I can get my hands on it.” I agree. And I love every opportunity I have to speak with and learn from Ryan Holiday. I'm thankful that he sent me an advanced copy of his newest book, Perennial Seller. And if you care about making work that lasts, I urge you to read it.

Episode 213: Ryan Holiday - How To Make Work That Lasts (Perennial Seller)

The success of Eric Barker and his book Barking Up The Wrong Tree. He built his email list up to 300,000 people by blogging/writing regularly for years. He gave for free, provided value. His book sold many and became a best seller because he built his platform.

Jeff Bezos -- "Focus on the things that do not change." - Zoom in on something timeless.

"It starts by wanting to create a classic." -- Robert Greene

How do we avoid falling for the seduction of short term notability to focus on long term success?

The "Lindy Effect" -- Nasim Taleb

The Obstacle Is The Way sold 3,000 books the first week, then steadily sold more. Now it sells about 1,000 a week.

"What are you making and who are you making it for?"

"Marketing is not separate, it's part of the puzzle."

Ryan discusses still receiving "hate" for Trust Me I'm Lying

Idea --> Execution. Casey Neistat "I don't want to hear about your best idea. The idea is the easy part."

Writing Routines -- Why Ryan started studying the routines of other great writers

"You have to have a routine. You must treat this creative profession like a profession"

Being very descriptive with the work

Why being in great physical shape is "part of the job"

You should do some form of strenuous exercise every single day

Seinfeld -- Chain method. Put an X on the calendar every day for exercise

Discipline: Doing it even when you don't feel good. You have to get up and do it

The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone. Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Max Joseph is one of the creative minds behind MTV's Catfish and the director of the indie film We Are Your Friends, has teamed up with the social media app Vero to launch a new documentary series, Charismatic Thinker. He started as an editor, then become a director. He has written, directed, or produced over 64 short films including commercials and web videos. He worked with Casey Nesitat for his famous video for Nike titled, "Make It Count." It has received more than 25,000,000 views. Recently, he released his latest documentary, DICKS: Do you need to be one to be a successful leader?It has received critical acclaim and I highly recommend it. (We discussed "the making" of that film during this conversation).

Show Notes:

Sustained Excellence = Understanding the importance of leading and managing

Why make the filmabout leadership?

Max is a nice guy, not a bully... Was one of the bullied

He thought, "If I were a dick, would I be more popular?"

"Do I need to be a dick to be a good leader?"

As the director it is sink or swim... "You're thrown into it. I did not learn how to lead or manage."

Sports can be an education in leadership -- If you don't have that growing up, how do you learn how to lead?

A Disagreeable Giver -- (Adam Grant) -- Most reduced form of the film. As a protective measure, that is the lesson in being a great leader

"I do think you need to, not be a dick, but turn off the empathy meter some..."

A leader must

Prioritize the greater vision

Why he wanted to talk to Pete Berg ("I thought he would say, "You need to be a dick to be a good leader.") Most people said you didn't need to be one to be successful. Max was looking for someone who said the opposite.

His paradigm -- "You need to be a good coach"

"All great leaders have a very strong backbone"

Max's parents were toosupportive

"Being a dick is about ego... You're a dick if you're putting people down just to do it."

How to make a living as a smart creative: "I've always wanted to do this. I love all aspects of filmmaking. I went to Hollywood after college to do this."

First job was cutting reels for directors -- "Look you're not the next Spielberg, but can you make this DVD?"

"I was a curious, excited, young filmmaker"

How did he get the job on Catfish?

He emailed Neev after the movie came out... The other guy who was supposed to film and be on the TV show dropped out at the last second. Max said yes and the rest is history (6 seasons, 99 episodes)

Read the book: The Surrender Experiment

"Every time I surrender to my passion, something amazing happens"

"Editing is like being a doctor. You need to put things back together after tearing them apart."

"I've had to get better at not being a hero"

The famous Nike "Make It Count" video with Casey Neistat

Max got to LA 13 years ago. Initially he was unhappy. He hated it.

He took a vacation backpacking through Europe and thought, "I love editing, there is real passion there"

"Just focus on enjoying one thing I love and that will be enough to sustain happiness"

Casey called him and asked him to be his first editor

He asked him to fly to New York and then travel the world for the Nike video

Casey got a tattoo during it... "Do More"

Embrace the adventure... Let the project grow from it

Advice: "Everyone has a gift... Has a genius for something. I get really unhappy if I don't do what I love for at least an hour a day"

The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone. Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.